6 Swiss Army Knives That Are Perfect For Your Keychain

Many of us own at least one Swiss Army Knife or perhaps one of the best Swiss Army Knife alternatives that are similar to the popular brand. After all, Swiss Army Knives can be incredibly valuable parts of your tool kit, as they offer a lot of versatility in a relatively small package. You may even have everything you need for a given project entirely within one SAK, which essentially makes it a tool kit you can fit in the palm of your hand. 

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You can pretty much take the compact-sized Swiss Army Knife wherever you go, which is another reason why many people like to own one. Many models even come with built-in key rings so you can easily add the SAK to the other tools and gadgets you’ll want for your keychain — that way you’ll never leave home without it. If you suddenly find yourself in need of a sharp blade, or a pair of scissors, or a small screwdriver, you may already have one right on your keyring, depending on the SAK you use.

The company that owns the Swiss Army Knife brand, Victorinox, divides its Swiss Army Knives into three sizes: small, medium, and large. Of these, some of the smallest models — which are about the size of your thumb — make especially great keychains. These smaller SAKs vary in the types of implements they’re equipped with, however, so you’ll want to choose carefully. Here is a more detailed look at six Swiss Army Knives that are perfect for your keychain, based on their functionality and cost, as well as my own personal experience and that of others who’ve purchased and used the tools. More information on how these SAKs were evaluated can be found at the end of this list.

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The Classic SD is a classic for a reason — with seven different functions, the multi-tool strikes a good balance of not having too many or too few included implements. The Classic SD is equipped with a small — but sharp — blade, a pair of scissors, a toothpick, and tweezers. It also has a nail file with a 2.5-millimeter flathead on its end that allows you to use it as a screwdriver. Plus, like most SAKs, it has a small key ring already built in to easily attach it to your keychain.

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I’ve had a Classic SD on my keychain for nearly two decades and have used it countless times. The blade is great for opening packages or cutting through string, and I’ve found the scissors to be especially useful in a pinch. For example, I use a lot of zip ties with my Christmas lights, and the tiny scissors make removing them in January a cinch. You’ll want to make sure you clean your toothpick before and after using it, though.

Of all the SAKs made by Victorinox, the Classic SD might be the one with the most color variants. Not only can you purchase the knife in standard colors like red, blue, black, and yellow, but you can also find it in many different patterns and styles, such as army camouflage, and wood finishes. There’s also a high grade silver Alox scale finish that doubles as an extra layer of protection to make it more durable. You can even find the Classic SD with the logos of your favorite sports teams, such as this one from the New York Islanders. There’s even one perfect for cat owners.

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The cost of the Victorinox Classic SD varies depending on which version you opt for. The standard-style Classic SD is available from Amazon for $24.

A standard Swiss Army Knife typically has seven tools or so, but Victorinox has a line of “Champ” knives that cram many more implements between the tool’s two scales. For example, the Swiss Champ XXL has a whopping 73 functions and is the biggest knife sold by the brand. If you’re looking for a SAK that’s small enough for your keychain but still includes a bunch of tools, the Mini Champ might be perfect for you. Based on over 1,460 Amazon reviews, the SAK has a strong 4.7 out of five overall customer score, and it’s easy to see why so many people find it valuable.

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The Mini Champ has a total of 18 functions, including a letter opener, wire stripper, nail file, nail cleaner, cuticle pusher, tweezers, toothpick, scraper, bottle opener, ballpoint pen, a flathead screwdriver, magnetic Phillips-head screwdriver, ruler, scissors, and even an orange peeler. It’s also equipped with the small blade you’ll find with most keychain-sized Swiss Army Knives.

To accommodate all these tools, the Mini Champ is the only small-sized SAK with three layers, making it about twice as thick as the Classic SD. However, it’s the same 2.3-inch length as the Classic SD and weighs just 1.6 ounces. You won’t find more functionality with a SAK of this size. For one thing, it’s nice to always have a ruler on hand, and this one has both metric and imperial units. However, a mini tape measure is a useful tool that fits your keychain and can make much longer measurements than the Mini Champ.

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Amazon sells the classic red Mini Champ for $58 and the silver Alox Mini Champ — which is coated with a protective layer to make it more durable and corrosion-resistant — for $70.

One drawback to having a Swiss Army Knife on your keychain is that you’ll likely have to remove it anytime you go through security at an airport or other location, as its small blade typically isn’t allowed. That’s exactly why Victorinox designed the Jetsetter — one of the only Swiss Army Knives to actually lack a knife. With no sharp blade present, you won’t have to fumble with trying to remove it from your keys before leaving for a trip, and you’ll still have a convenient multi-tool on hand while you travel.

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Over 660 Amazon customers have scored the Jetsetter a solid 4.6 out of five average user rating. Even without a blade, the SAK still offers seven different functions you may find handy while away from home. These implements include a bottle opener, wire stripper, toothpick, tweezers, and magnetic Phillips-head screwdriver. The Jetsetter is also equipped with a pair of tiny scissors, which I tend to use with my keychain Swiss Army knife more than I do its knife — so you can still get a lot done with this travel-friendly model.

Of course, the idea of a Swiss Army Knife with no knife may not appeal to you. There’s also always the chance you get stuck with a grumpy TSA worker who won’t let you through security with the multi-tool. (Though, you could always try getting it back from a website that lets you buy confiscated TSA items.) But, if you want a Swiss Army Knife on hand at the airport and on an airplane — as well as on hand when you’re at your destination — the Jetsetter is probably your best option. The Victorinox Jetsetter is listed on Amazon for $24, but is currently 6% off.

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One tool you may want to keep on your keychain so that you always have one on hand is a nail clipper — there’s nothing more annoying than suddenly having a chipped nail getting in the way of everything you’re trying to do, especially if you type at a computer all day at work. Victorinox makes the Nail Clipper 582 that also includes tweezers and a toothpick that could solve this issue. However, that’s pretty minimalist even for a keychain-sized SAK — it doesn’t even include a knife.

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A better option would be the Victorinox Nail Clip 580, which is a similar model that also includes seven other functions alongside its fully-functional, quick-release nail clipper. For the most part, these tools are most useful for nail hygiene — they include a nail file, cleaner, tweezers, and serrated-edged scissors. But, it also has a toothpick for dental hygiene and — with the addition of a small, sharp blade — makes the SAK a convenient multi-purpose tool to keep attached to your keys.

Based on over 1,670 user reviews on Amazon, the Nail Clip 580 has an excellent overall customer score of 4.8 out of five. One of its few downsides only applies if you’re looking to add some flair to your keychain, as some of its more stylish options cost more than the standard fire engine red model. The sophisticated Walnut Wood and Camo options are several dollars more than the standard Victorinox red model, for example. But, if you don’t mind prioritizing aesthetics over budget, this shouldn’t be an issue (and is actually a plus if the iconic red style is totally your vibe). You can purchase the Victorinox red Nail Clip 580 for a little over $37 on Amazon.

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One of the main reasons most people choose one Swiss Army Knife over another is the type of implements it includes. Ideally, you’ll get yourself one that best suits your personal needs or lifestyle, which makes it pretty convenient that Victorinox offers a variety of keychain-sized models just as it does its more standard-sized SAKs. For example, I own the Classic SD and get a lot of use out of it, but because it doesn’t include a bottle opener, I have to attach a separate tool to my keys, so I’m never stuck with a drink I can’t open.

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If you want a Swiss Army Knife with a bottle opener on your keychain, the Rambler is a good option. It has two layers of tools and is a little thicker than the Classic SD, but has the same 2.3-inch length and weighs just a little over 1-ounce. In addition to the bottle opener, the Rambler offers nine other functions: a small blade, 2.5-millimeter flathead screwdriver, magnetic Phillips-head screwdriver, wire stripper, nail file, tweezers, toothpick, and a pair of scissors.

The Rambler is very similar to another keychain-sized SAK — the Rally — but includes scissors, whereas the Rally does not. However, the Rally is one of the cheapest SAKs available, so in effect you’re paying around double the price just for the one extra function. I use the scissors on my SAK keychain all the time, though, and you might find the extra cost worth it for the additional tool. Based on over 2,900 Amazon reviews, the Rambler has an impressive 4.8 out of five average customer score. The Victorinox Rambler is priced at $35 on Amazon, but is currently available for around $31.50.

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You have several quality options to choose from if you want a keychain-sized Swiss Army Knife, but if you’re okay with a larger, slightly heavier tool, then your choices expand greatly. The Victorinox Tinker, for example, is a medium-sized Swiss Army Knife that is 3.6 inches long, which is 1.3 inches longer than most keychain-sized SAKs. That’s not that bad, and the tool only weighs 2.2 ounces — you may even have other keychains heavier than that already attached to your keys.

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If you’re okay with carrying this slightly larger tool on your keys, what you get in return is a bigger blade that can be used for heavier duty tasks and for more applications. It also has a second, smaller blade for more precise cuts. Along with these two blades, the Tinker is equipped with 10 other functions, including the knife: a can opener, bottle opener, wire stripper, tweezers, toothpick, two screwdrivers, and a sewing awl that can be used in several different ways.

I’ve owned a Tinker for over a decade and can attest to its durability and utility — I especially appreciate having two different-sized blades to choose from depending on the task. To be honest, though, I don’t attach it to my keys, since I already have a Classic SD keychain. But, if I didn’t have the latter, I probably would use the Tinker as a keychain, and often carry it in my pocket in addition to my keys, anyway. It’s lightweight enough that it would fit right in with the rest of my keys and keychains. Amazon lists the Victorinox Tinker for $36, but it’s currently available for nearly $10 less.

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While most Swiss Army Knives wouldn’t feel out of place as part of your keychain, this list focuses mostly on Victorinox’s small-sized products, as they are compact and light enough for most keychain setups, even if you like to keep things relatively streamlined. The one medium-sized SAK on this list is also one of the lighter, slimmer ones in its class. An effort was also made to include a variety of different functions spread out across the listed options — that way, there is a better chance you’ll find a keychain-sized Swiss Army Knife that has the tools you’re looking for.

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While Victorinox has a strong reputation for its high-quality products, it’s always a good idea to make sure a tool is worth investing in before spending any money on it. The feedback of those who’ve used these specific models — as well as my own personal experience with two of the knives as well as several of the implements found on the other models — was heavily taken into account while putting together this list. I’ve used both the Classic SD and Tinker for at least a decade, if not twice that in the case of the former.

The customer feedback of the other models was sourced from Amazon, since the retailer has a huge base of users to draw from. The higher the number of customers weighing in on a product, the more reliable the overall rating is, as any fake reviews or ratings made in bad faith (whether positively or negatively) won’t skew the average too much. The recommended SAKs on this list all have an average customer score of 4.6 out of five or higher, based on at least 660 user ratings, if not thousands more.

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